Illuminated display devices



March 3, 1959 H. B. THORNE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICES Filed July 17, 1956 United States Patent C ILLUIWINATED DESPLAY DEVICES Howard B, Thorne, WesfChe'ster, Pa.

Application .uly 17, 1956, Serial No. 598,269 6 Claims. (Cl. 24d-10.1)

This invention relates to illuminated display devices; and more particularly'to display devices which catch the attention and please the eye of the'observer, not only. because of the artistic appearance of the device butl also by virtue of one or more features which cause changes in the appearance, f o'r example, by variations inthe lighting ofthe device (as by changes in duration, intenn The invention further contemplate's a display' device,

lof the character mentione'dywhich shallbe attractive and pleasing tothe eye, from the standpointof' generalshape', color, design, lightingeffects, and/orf motion; thep'referred embodiment' having a plurality' of these" desirable characteristics.

Additionally, the'v invention contemplates a device, of the character mentioned, which mayfbereadilyand' ineX`- pensively made,which at the same-tirnewill be suiciently sturdy, whichv in use will b'erelia'ble',` and which' is"e`X'- tr'em'e'ly sirriplelfrom the standpoint of construction, operation,` maintenance and repair', and also'irenew'alv of parts, e'. g., the 'light's'oirceeV Morespecically,' the invention contemplates a' dis'- playy device, of the character n'rentioned',V con'ipiisirigVY a pluralityV of spaced-apart nested5 shells,-on'e substantially housedby another,the innermost shell being' configured to form a space to receive a source of"illumination, each shell having light' transmittingarea's'at`intervals,vso that u'p'on relative rotationthere' are intermittent ashes of light appearing atI an external point of View, as certain areas'of the shells register with` each other'.

' Still more specically', theinvention contemplates a displaydevice, ofthe character mentioned, whereinimproved display effects are secured by features' of the shells themselves, as by utilizing two-shells, the'inner'l one being ofopaque material, desirably of a light color' or white on its innersurface and'of'a dark color or black on its'outer surface, and the outer one preferably being of a darkcoloror black-'on-its'inner surface and being on its outer surface of any desiredcolor'or' colors'and anyfdesired pattern thereof, whereby, when one sha'd'e is rotated relative to the other, twinkling"lightetfects'of 'highintensity, and: of suchY color tones' asf' are desired,

maybe secured, everrfrorn1 a small light source',such as an o'rdinary incandescent'light-bnlb- (of, for'eirarnp'le, 40 wattsy to 75 watts), While' at'the same timethe external appearance ofthe outside shell may be designed'y to' ccoperate with the twinklingY light elfectsffto'pro'duce de- Vsirable'effects in' combination. Asn an advantageous'example, the invention has-in view such a'display device,

wherein the shellsaremade conical, the external shell@ is l 2,876,339 Patented Mar, 3, 1.959

2 ConfiguredV tovk appear like a' Christmas tree,` and the twinkling light'v effects through' the apertures of the shells' appear like lights,- stars, balls' and/or other Christmas tree ornaments'.

Still further, the invention'` contemplates a' display de vice; of the character mentioned, wherein-thel transparent or translucent areasv of oneor more' ofthe: shells may be'p'rovided by'apertures formed or cut therein, inv which case they may be left open (andmayQif desired, serve the additionah function ofcirculating openings for' the air warmed by the light source), or When-not used as' air openings, they'may be covered with'variously tinted transl lucent' filming, of-cellophaneor other suitable materials; Alternatively, one or more of the light'transmittin'gV areas ofvone or moreof-the shellsV may be providedby utilizing a generally transparent or translucent material for all or'partof the shell itself, and coating'or otherwise rendering opaque those portions of the shell adjacent to said light transmitting' areas-' the latter being left plain" or being tinted in' such manner as to-still'be'able'to transmit light.

Still further',- theinvention contemplates 'adisplay de-` vice, of-thecharacter mentioned, wherein'lthef scintillating effect in' the eye of thebeholder v'vill'b'el present whether hisfpoint'ofview' is lev'elfw'iththe device or is f above or below'the'cente'r of the`sameso that he v'ieWsthedevice atan oblique angle',ran`dinthe preferred embodiment-"I a'cco'mplish'thisby the provision'of a' pair of shells, v one of whichh'a's lightt'rarisrnitting areasfo'f Aany desired rshape -fr`eXarnp1e,-srnall dise-like areas), whilevthe'othe'r shell haslightl transmitting areas v'vhicha'reAv elongated axially vof-f'the device, andn'ost preferably Whereiri'sad elongated areasare arranged in staggered" relationship' in adjacent rwsper-ipherally of the shell, andbein'g's'o arrangedV as t'o'leng'th and' position that saidvareas' in one`- peripheral r'o'w' will' interleave with" said areas in theV next' peripheral row-in other words, the rotational" pathway of aY slit or-"slotinonev row will overlap the'rotational'pathway'of a'slit or slot in thenextvadjacentirow;

The invention furthercontemplates increasing'. the" intesity of'vthe' sein'tillating. beams emanating'l fr'on'i' the device'and/'o'r minimizing-the" required 'power' of1 theelight source, by mountinga-'Yvvhite -or1v very light' disc or other f'o'rni" o'f' reflectorr below'the' lightfsource', adjacent thebottom-ofthe innermostishell, saididisc being preferablysupp'o'r'tedfi'omth'e' samebase as tli'esh'ells', for Vexample"from the socket of the lamp', and/or being' s'o positioned-With relation to the innermost-shell ast'o leave a peripheral opening therebetween for'the passage ofl an airV current, and/ o'r beingaperturedffor a similar purpose;v and inthe preferred embodiment, oneof such apertures' is so' made a; to passl a supporting element'for one o'r' rn'o'reo'fv the s ells.

Still further, the invention contemplates"the'provision of aA supporting device for one or more'o'f the' shells' which extends upwardly from the base and is'so shape'do'rconfigured as to'permit the ready'screwingfand'unscrewing of a light bulb for the device, while atthesanietimebein'g so configured and located as` to impose a" practical' limit upon the'diameter` (and hencev upon'the'si'ze of the' light bulb which may be employed in the' dey'ice, wherebyfto serve; asl a safety feature', preventing inadvertent 'use'of'it'o'o large'a light source, with theY possible danger of overheating of the device.'-

The `invention also contemplates variousnovel features of' construction and operation, as' disclosed inthelfollo'yvin 'g' description and/ or the drawings,l and/or'as-'setv out in the appended'claims.

kFigure l` `isan 'elevational' view, partly in section, ofI 'an illuminated displaydevice embodying the iri'v'en'tin in its presentpreferred'form, adapted for usei th"e"corifi`g'iir'a ti'orr ora"v Christmas tree;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view on the line 2-,2

of Figure 1 but omitting the bottom reflector plate shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a .cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure' 1, at the level of the rotational propelling vanes of the outer shell, which level in this embodiment, is between the seats or supports for the inner and outer shells;

Figure '4' is a vertical section'through the upper portion of the device of Figure 1, omitting the ornament at the top of the device, showing the fixed support for the inner shell, the rotatable bearing for the outer shell, and the propelling tins adjacent the top of the outer shell;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through an alternative embodiment of my invention, being on a smaller scale than Figures l to 4, and illustrating an arrangement wherein the outer shell is xed by means of a support or seat at the bottom,` and the inner shell is rotatably mounted;

Figure 6 is a plan section on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, omitting the light bulb shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the surface of the inner shell, illustrating the staggered relationship of light transmitting apertures in adjacent rows thereof, configured andV arranged to have overlapping rotational paths.

The construction of the iirst embodiment, as seen in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a base 7, a light socket 8 (which at the same time serves as the trunk of the Christmas tree in this embodiment), an electric cord or the like 9 adapted to be coupled with a source of current in the usual way, and extending through the base into the socket and having a switch (not shown) if desired. An ordinary household lighting bulb 11 (which in a typical unit is of 60 watts) stands vertically in the socket S and is housed within the inner conical shell 12. This shell in the present embodiment is fixed relative to the light source 11, with its vertical axis coinciding with the vertical axis of the light source, and the support of the shell in that position is provided by a bracket which may consist simply of a sti npstanding wire 13, which at the bottom has an integral spring-like loop 13a, either resting upon the base 7, or (as here shown) seated in a shallow groove formed in the periphery of the shoulder 14 of the base (as by being sprung over the edge of shoulder 14); said wire further comprising a radially inwardly extending portion 146 and a second vertically extending portion 13C, which latter is coaxial with the cones and the light bulb.

At a point somewhat spaced from the upper end of the ,portion 13C, a disc or button-like member 1S (Figure 4) is provided, this disc being punch-apertured at 16 to form a tight friction joint with the upper portion 13e of the wire. The disc is preferably tapered to lit the taper of the cone `12, its diameter being slightly greater than the minimum diameter of the cone at its upper end, so that the cone hangs fixedly therefrom, in the position shown. Radial Vportion 13b of wire is so located as to height, and the radial distance between wire portions 13 and 13e is such that the maximum-bulb for which the unit is designed can just comfortably be screwed into the socket S-this arrangement preventing insertion of too large a bulb-which is a feature conducive to economy and safety, as hereinbefore mentioned.

At the extreme upper end of the axle extension 13o of the wire, the same is tapered off to a sharp pointed bearing 17, and in order to reduce this bearing to a very small size, the wire itself may be turned down at 18, as shown.

The uppermost extension 13e of the wire, with its pointed bearing 17, constitutes the support for the outer shade. The tapered point 17 is preferably hardened. Alternatively, it may comprise a separate jewel or other hardened element mounted on top of the wire rod. If the point 17 is of hard metal, the cooperating bearing for the rotating outer shell may comprise a sapphire or other jewel 19, or other suitable hard and smooth member mounted in a block 19a (of brass, for example) which in turn has a tapered guide at its under-face for facilitating the registry of bearing elements 17 and 19 when the outer conical shell 21 is slipped down into place. The jewel mount 19a may in turn be configured at its outer face to tit within the upper end of the shell 21, or may be secured therein by an intermediate tapered collar 22, the parts 19a and 22 being secured either by a frictional grip or by an adhesive.

The outer shell 21 is thus supported by the same rod as is the inner shell 12, but is rotatable relative thereto, in a position where it substantially houses the inner shell, although in a spaced-apart nested relationship, which spacing should be such as to serve two functions, rst the function that it serves as a factor in determining the diameter of the beam of light which will be visible to an observer, at a given external point of view, when light transmitting areas of the two shells are in registry with each other and with the eye of an observer; and second to provide an adequate conical flow passageway for heated air from the light source, as indicated by the arrows F in Figure 4. The heated air from the light source passes from the inner cone to the conical passageway F, by meansof the light transmitting slots 24 of the inner cone, and it passes out of the outer cone through apertures 25 which are preferably formed by cutting substantially semi-circular slits (the base of each semicircle being at an angle to the vertical-as seen in Figure l) and pushing out of the conical surface the resultant semidiscs 26 (Figs. l, 3 and 4), the elements 26 thus forming vanes or tins, disposed at such angles as to act as impellers, causing a rotation of the outer shell 21, which in the instance here shown will be a clockwise rotation when viewed from above.

The 4apertures in the outer cone 21 are here shown as a multiplicity of small round holes 27, so as to simulate Christmas tree lights, but they may be formed as small stars, or in Various shapes as of animals, figurines, or other Christmas tree ornaments. The completion of the Christmas tree effect may be secured by mounting at the very top of the outer cone a star 28 which may desirably be of plastic, having an integral conical extension or base 29 at the bottom, which tits within the space 30 at the very top of the cone. This portion of the assembly may be readily completed, by making the cone 21 of paper, plastic, or other suitable sheet material, cut originally in the flat, and rolling up to form the cone (holding the element 29 within the space 30 as the rolling is done) and then gluing or otherwise sealing the joint which preferably extends axially of the conical shell, for example as shown at 23 in Figure 3. Both cones may be reinforced at either or both ends, for example by the inner peripheral wires 40.

Besides making the interior of the inner cone white or of some light tint, the light relecting and power saving features hereinbefore mentioned may be improved by mounting the white cardboard or other light reflecting disc 10 adjacent the bottom of the inner shell. This disc may seat upon the socket 8 and bev centrally apertured (as shown) to pass the neck of the light bulb 11. The disc 10 may be dat or dished, and is preferably spaced somewhat from the inner periphery of the inner conical shell, as shown at 20, to form an air passageway (particularly in a construction Where the light transmitting areas of inner cone 12in the lower portion of the coneare not made as slits but as transparencies) which may be the case when forming the cone of vinyl, plastic, acetate, or other transparent or translucent material and coating or rendering the same opaque except for the desired light transmitting areas. Alternative or supplementary air passages may be formed by apertures in disc 20, for example slotted apertures 3i), one of which is shown Yas being cut to pass the bracket structure 13, 13b, 13e,

during assembly.

It will be observed that the slots 24 of the inner shell 12 lare arranged in peripheral rows and those of one row are preferably staggered with relation to those of lan adjacent row. uThe rows may` thus `bebrrnight fairly close together (while maintaining. the strength `ot the shell) with the result that some light transmitting areashwill register with the line of sight througha aperture 27 of the outer shell, whether such line of sight-,be directly horizontal or upward or downward at anobliqUe angle. To further assure this result, so that a twinkling etect will be obtained from practically any point of view, the light transmitting areas' of; one peripheral row may be interleaved with said areas ofY the nextradjacent row, and this may be particularly desirable i the upper portion of the conical shell, where the diameter of thel cone is smaller. Such upper portion (not visible in Figure 1) is shown in Figure 7,- with the staggered and interleaved arrangement of slots, those in one row being shown at 24 and those ina superjacent row at`24".

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figuresu 5 and 6, the parts 7, 8, 9,- 11, 173, 13a, 13b,- 13c, 17,v `I8, 1-9, 19a, 1911 and 22 may be substantially identical with those hereinbefore described. I

The inner cone 212,- however, in' this embodiment? serves as the rotating cone. Ithas the light transmitting yslots 24 (as in the first embodiment). The rotating fins however are not placed on the outer con'e but are`v provided at 226 near the upper end of the inner cone, just below the rotating bearing, which is mounted in this cone instead of in the outer cone. The inner cone 226 mayV come right to a point (as shown) or the upper end of it may be truncated just as in the case of the cones shown in Figure 4, so long as the bearing assembly closes ott the upper end of the cone, so that substantial airtiow must pass out over the vanes 226. The air from the intercone passageway F, must be free to escape through the outer cone, and for this purpose, if necessary, the light transmitting areas 27 of the outer cone 221 may be carried right up into the tip end of the outer cone, n the region above the vanes 226 of the inner cone. The outer cone may, as before, be finished off with a star, or may (as here shown) be brought to a closed point.

In this embodiment, the fixed support of the outer cone is accomplished by a bracket which may consist of three sti wire arms 215, having a common central ring 216 engaging the socket member 8, the arms 215 having upturned tip portions, to'hold the cone in place, as shown. The ring 216 may frictionally engage the socket S, just as the disc aperture 16 frictionally engages the wire 13el in Figure 4. By this means-in either embodiment-the height of the fixed cone may be altered relative tothe assembly as a whole, and this may also be used to adjust the volume of the passageway between the two cones, and also to adjust the light transmitting characteristics of the display device.

In either embodiment of the device, the present preferred shell finish is: white or lightly tinted on the inside of the innermost shell, black or darkly colored on the outer surface of said shell, black or alternating dark and light on the inner surface of the outermost shell, and a light decorative color on the outer surface of the latter.

In either embodiment, it is not only feasible but desirable--particularly when the device is used to give a Christmas tree effect-to tint different vertically extending segments of the inner surface of the innermost cone with diiferent light colors, so that they will throw different colored beams out through the registering light transmitting areas. Likewise it is desirable in such a device to decorate the outermost cone, either by placing colored pictures of figurines, toys, ornaments, tinsel and the like thereon (to simulate Christmas tree decorations) or by producing such effects by leaving the desired decorative areas transparent or translucent, which may further be tinted in various colors, while retaining their translucency. In the latter instance, the lighting will show forth through said decorative areas, varying in intensity as the cones have relative rotation, and at the same time the clear light transmitting areas (if used) typied by the small disc-like apertures` 27,` will4 sentillater the` devicei opcrates.v A .4 In. a' typical ldevice (when used. asV table-decorating Christmas tree), the inner cone maybe 7l/z high, in diameter at its base,` and inrdiameter atfits ltruncated upper end. The slo'ts ,therein may' be about Ylr/z long in the axial direction andaboutla" in width. There may preferably be eight or ten peripheralroivsjofthese, those in the bottom row being spaced on approximately 1" centers, andthosenearertothetop being on approxi? mately 1/2 centers. In the sameru'nit, the' outer conical shell, from its truncated upper endto the'y bottomm'ay be aboutv l0 or 12." in height, its base may bei about 9" diameter and its upper end-about in diameter. The peripheral rows of,r apertures 27, therein may equal in number they rowsof slots 24 of the inner cone,;andheach row may be generally located at ,the same horizontal plane as the center of a rowY of slots'. The apertures 2 7 may typically be 1A 'r` less in' diameter, and they maybe placed on varying" centers' from row" t' row, or varying centers within a` row. With slots and'aper'tureszconfgred and spaced in the' preferred way, as, above described, the duration of the visible flashes of'light` throughthe regist`ering light-transmitting areas isshort ncom'p'arison with the periods of non-registration of said areas.

The proportions and locations of the slots 24 and apertures 27 may be varied a good deal (as may be the size and shape of the two shells and the unit as a whole), but when used as a Christmas tree device, there is an advantage in irregular spacing and an irregular pattern of the apertures 27, as this produces an extremely varie; gated scintillating effect over the Christmas tree.

All dimensions listed in the example here given are to be taken merely as typical and not by way of limitation. They are intended to aid the designer and constructer in producing the most attractive and effective device.

While I have illustrated my invention in its use as an ornamental Christmas display, with conical shells especially suited to that purpose, it will be understood that the device may be put to a variety of uses, and for its various uses (for instance, as a toy, a lamp, or an advertising medium) the shells may be made wholly or partly spherical, hour-glass shaped, cylindrical, and in other forms wherein the inner and outer shells may have relative rotation; and for the different purposes, I may employ different decorations, different coloring and diierent lighting characteristics.

Variations may of course be made in features of construction, form, size, shape, materials, color and decoration, within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An illuminated display device comprising spacedapart nested shells, one substantially housed by another, the innermost shell being configured to form a space to receive a source of light, a mounting whereby one of said shells has rotation relative to the device in general, each shell having at intervals areas adapted to transmit light, the major portion of the inner face of the innermost shell being pigmented to be very light in its inherent appearance and the major portion of the inner face of the outermost shell being pigmented to be relatively dark in comparison'therewith, whereby, upon relative rotation between the shells, intermittent iiashes of light are passed through from the inner face of said innermost shell and from the source of light to an external point of view, upon registry of one such area of one shell with passing light-transmitting areas of another shell, the light being reflected and accentuated by said inner face of the innermost shell but not appreciably reliected by the inner face of the outermost shell, and the said light transmitting areas of each shell, at a plurality of given transverse sec tional planes thereof, being of lesser peripheral dimension at each such plane than are the said intervals between said areas, so that the duration of the visible ashes adress of light Athrough the registering areas is short in comparison with the periods of non-registration of said-areas.

`2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the major-,por-

tion/of the outer face of the innermost shell is pigmented to be relatively dark in comparisonwith its inner face. v 3. The construction of claim 1 wherein certain of said areas of the inner shell, individually, are substantially elongated in the general direction of the axis of rotation and Awhereinsuch areas of the outer shell are individually of about equal dimensions in directions axially and peripherally of the shell and are but a fraction of the said axial dimensionof said areasof tne inner shell, so that a scintillating effect is assured at points of View through a wide range of angles ina vertical plane.

4. The construction of claim`1 wherein said shells are conical and there is an internal reflector over most of the base area of the innermost conical shell and a light source is disposed near the bottom of the said innermost shell, so as to further accentuate the light transmitted periodically through the registering areas to the external point of view and to increase the vertical range of angles through vwhich a bright scintillating eiect may be seen.

5. The construction of claim 1 wherein the said light- 'transmitting areas in the innermost of said shells are axially elongatedfand wherein the so elongated areas are arranged in a plurality of peripheral groups which are staggered relative to one another. l 6. The construction of claim 5 wherein at leastcer- Atain of said staggered areas are so positioned that the rotational paths of adjacent areas overlap.

1,066,493 Harrold July 8, 1913 1,178,764 Watanabe Apr. 11, 1916 1,443,919 Y Le Vie Jan. 30, 1923 1,865,758 -Horton July 5, 1932 2,227,861 Petrone Jan. 7, 1941 2,279,182 Snyder Apr. 7, 1942 2,345,517 Weiss Mar. 28, 1944 2,398,974 Storm Apr. 23, 1946 2,521,851 Johnson Sept. 12, 1950 V,2,611,071 Palmieri Sept. 16, 1952A 2,615,266 Wallin Oct. 28, 1952 2,726,320 Damiano Dec. 6, 1955 2,737,576 Fasson Mar. 6, 1956 

